Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The bats came alive in the opening game today in Ann Arbor as the Panthers defeated Concordia 12-2, but those same bats went silent in the nightcap in a 2-1 defeat. The split leaves Davenport at 17-21 on the year and 6-8 in league action. DU hosts CUAA on Saturday at 1:00 PM.
After getting a non-conference 9-inning win over GR rival Calvin earlier in the week, the Davenport baseball team got a much needed conference win in the opening game thanks to 17 hits and a stellar pitching performance from senior Brandon Romero (Hart, Mich.)
Romero threw a complete game four-hitter while allowing just two runs and striking out three.
The offense came out on fire in the opening two innings as they chased the Cardinals starter after just four outs. Rob Bolster (Blissfield, Mich.) picked up his first of two hits on the day to lead things off as he and James Folske (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) scored for a 2-0 lead.
After the Cardinals got one of their own in the bottom half, the Panthers then posted a 5-spot in the top of the second. Derrick Gentile (Sturgis, Mich.) led off the inning with a double to right center and was brought home on a Travis Laver (Holland, Mich.) single.
After Bolster reached base, James Folske brought home Laver and then Matt Collins (Akron, Ohio) followed with a double that scored Bolster. Junior Matt McNeil (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) then picked up two of his game high 4 RBI with a single to complete the five run inning.
DU did get one more big inning as they brought home three in the top of the 4th and added a single run in each of the final two innings for the final outcome of 12-2.
Bolster, Austin Licon (Rockford, Ill.), McNeil, Dan Brown (Bay City, Mich.), Gentile and Laver all collected at least two hits in the game.
The second game would see a much different outcome as only three runs were scored. The two starting pitchers, Andy Westerburg (Spring Lake, Mich.) for Davenport and Brad Roettger for Concordia were solid over the opening five frames as they allowed a combined four hits and no runs.
Davenport broke the scoreless game in the top of the 6th when David Stuppy (Dowagiac, Mich.) opened the frame with a double to right field. After Rob Bolster was hit by a pitch, Stuppy and Bolter were each moved up a base thanks to a sac from Travis Laver.
Austin Licon then put the first run on the board with a sac fly to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. The margin would be short lived however as the host Cardinals came right back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the 6th.
DU got a runner (Dan Brown) to third base with 2 outs in the 7th but were unable to bring him home for the tying run as Concordia escaped with the 1-run victory.
Ryan Lind took the hard-luck loss for Davenport as Westerburg finished his day with a line of 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB and 0K.
Davenport is now 17-21 on the year and will host the Cardinals on Saturday at East Kentwood HS. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM.
